Tag: sects

  • Hijacked Agenda

    At some point in our history, Islam was hijacked by well-meaning community leaders and turned into a religion of fear and compliance, rather than the balanced lifestyle that it actually propagates. It’s that eternal struggle for balance that was probably lost when people veered from the practices of moderation and sincerity because of a fundamental shift in what they aspired towards. Instead of focusing on what drove that shift and remedying that, the community leaders rallied around driving fear into the hearts of the people to encourage them to return to the path of moderation.

    I think there is infinitely more to gain from leading a life of purpose rather than a life of compliance. Compliance has the potential of a successful outcome, but yields very little joy in the journey itself. Purpose has the potential for both, and so it is with Islam as well. Instead of constantly focusing on the repercussions of non-compliance, we should be focusing on the beauty and benefit of compliance. Rather than acting out of fear, we will find ourselves responding with passion and conviction. Every single chapter of the Qur’an, except for chapter nine, begins with the confirmation that God is the most merciful, yet everything that is preached is focused on His punishment and wrath instead. The logic around our approach towards learning and teaching about Islam is fundamentally flawed.

    Understanding the wisdom behind something always leads to an appreciation for it. Where that wisdom has a direct bearing on our lives, it automatically leads to adoption of such principles into our own lives thereby entrenching the benefits of its practices because of the conviction with which we do it, rather than birthing a grudge practice because we’re afraid of the result of non-compliance. Personally, I blame the Indo-Pak influences for most of this. Based on my own cultural influences from my upbringing as a Muslim of Indian descent in South Africa, and referencing my experiences with Pakistani/Indian and Arab communities in my work abroad, the consistent trend is clear. The common motivator for discipline in the Indo-Pak communities is dominated by punishment or negative consequences that are to be imposed, rather than experienced as a natural outcome, coupled with an absence of opportunity or total intolerance to question the rationale behind what is being taught.

    It is from this same quarter that I see regular accusations of deviancy and even disbelief against practicing Muslims simply because they (those Muslims) don’t comply with the preferred interpretations of the Indo-Pak-based schools of thought. The emphasis on the ritualisation of everything Islamic, and the focus on imposing social structures that have no direct basis in the traditions of the beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) lead to unhealthy dynamics that tear communities apart. What started out as a need for revival has fast turned into a turf war. The sectarian rhetoric continues to pour down in bucket loads from the pulpits, while at the same time pleading for Allah’s mercy in the delivery of rain to a drought stricken land.

    I am convinced that there are simply too many self-proclaimed scholars brandishing about man-made titles that are supposed to emphasise their religiosity relative to the average Muslim, which establishes them, in the eyes of a warped society, as superior Muslims to the rest. Islam has never been about title-hood, inherited privilege, or binary thinking. It has always been about principles and values that align with the core nature of what we need to achieve a fulfilling and purposeful life coupled with a harmonious interaction with society. It is about moderation and justice, and subscription, not compulsion. Too often we mistaken laws that were intended for guiding our personal actions with laws that are intended to establish harmony in society. For this reason we see fit to pass judgement and, when within our means, punishment against those that indulge in an act that does not transgress the rights of others, but is only harmful to the individual.

    Islam has been hijacked by the scholars long before it was hijacked by the West. The scholars, with their divisive politics, have made it easy for the West to use Muslims as their fodder for their wars. The masses that blindly follow play to the personal agendas of the scholars that seek to prop themselves up as leaders of a nation that have no leadership. This reminds me of the stench of opportunism among the same leadership that is ever ready to chastise the masses for their non-compliance or wayward behaviour, but never take responsibility as the self-proclaimed leaders that they are, for being incapable of leading the nation of Muslims out of the quagmire that we find ourselves in.

    The most potent sign of the times, for me, is the fact that we are living proof of one of the major signs of the hour, where Allah promised to raise a nation that will re-establish the beauty of Islam because those that inherited its custom will no longer serve its true purpose. The majority of the growth of Islam is from reversions to Islam, and not from the offspring of families that were born into Muslim households. Islam is being wrestled away from the traditional strongholds that assumed to be the flag bearers of this beautiful way of life, but they’re so caught up in their self-praise and condescension on lesser Muslims, that they would rather assume themselves to be the strangers that were promised paradise, while not realising that they don’t fit the description to begin with.

    I’m often reminded of the prophecy that states that a time will come when we will despise the scholars. The general assumption is that such a disgust towards scholars will be due to ignorance or evil intent on the part of the masses, but most don’t consider that it may be due to the unacceptable behaviour of the scholars themselves. I think the claim to being a scholar is akin to the profession of humility. The mere profession of the same leaves the claim null and void. We don’t need self-proclaimed scholars or schools of thought to resurrect the honour of the Ummah. What we need is a return to the Islamic traditions (the Sunnah) that won the hearts of the most vile of humankind at a time when even Europe was sunken in barbarism and acts of filth so vile, that most would prefer to recall it only as fairy tales or romanticised fictional stories instead.

    Despite the hijacked history of Islam, it was not spread by the sword. The sword was only ever raised in defense of an imminent attack. Muslims went out to meet their enemies rather than wait for their enemies to come to their cities. These days we invite the enemies in, and then go out to plead for their mercy to escape the horror that we created at home. It is no wonder that the reverts to Islam consistently demonstrate a better understanding and appreciation of its intent and principles than most Muslims that have been raised in a traditional Muslim household. In  the absence of authentic leadership, and a world full of tainted sources of knowledge, being a Muslim of moderation becomes exceedingly difficult at a time when questioning is needed, but is not afforded.

  • Simply Complicated

    A regular debate that I find myself caught up in is that of the views of interpreted Islam versus what I naively would like to believe is the simple and straight forward way of practicing Islam. I’ve always argued that the views of the scholars, especially the big four, were taken to the extremes by their students or adherents, rather than intended to start up what we have today which is nothing short of a clash of sectarians.

    Again naively speaking on my part, I always maintain the belief that Islam is the ultimate simple way of life. It is a way of life that should not be so complex that a simple man without an education must be able to engage and practice its wisdom without falling foul of the tenets of the faith. As always, there is a middle ground, and that middle ground must be based on practicality rather than academics. Unfortunately, from my experiences both online and offline, the implementation of the simpleness of Islam has been relegated to one of academic discourse rather than beautiful principles.

    I keep reminding myself that the companions were not the most educated lot, and in fact, nor was the beloved prophet (pbuh) either. Then I consider the current level of debate and debunking that happens in their names or from their efforts to maintain a simple guide to a wholesome life, and I really wonder if we’re over complicating a really simplistic and peaceful way of living? I think we are. Our debates are most often about the detail of rituals rather than the value of the principles being reflected in those actions. The logic behind the beauty of Islam becomes manifest when we reflect and we seek to understand the nature of man, not the nature of rituals.

    Another deeply held belief that I have is that Islam is closest to our innate nature than any other way of life we may encounter. History is replete with philosophers, scholars, students, and others trying to uncover the secrets of the most balanced lifestyle that would lead to inner peace whilst immersed in a chaotic world. Islam already has those answers, yet the majority of Muslims are struggling to cope with modern pressures because Islam is presented as a set of rituals that is independent of our basic needs.

    When we view prayer as a ritual, or charity as a burden, or when we view children as an expense or an heir rather than a gift, then we lose the very essence of that natural way of life that is so beautifully balanced in Islam. We fail to see that Islam is not a set of rituals, nor is it a law book. It is a guide to achieve the most meaningful balance in this lifetime that is possible. We complicate that balance, in fact we compromise our ability to ever achieve it when we try to implement Islam as a set of rules separate to that of our daily lives where the focus is on compliance rather than benefit.

    Heaven and hell shouldn’t feature in our considerations of what we choose to do or how we engage with others. At the risk of appearing deluded or arrogant, I honestly believe that if we viewed Islam correctly, we would see Islam in the light it was intended, which is a system so beautifully balanced, that it allows us to literally achieve the best of both worlds. We’ll find peace and fulfillment in this lifetime, while also inherently earning the best that the hereafter has to offer. Being indoctrinated with the pervasive culture of ritualistic compliance instead of principled guidance, it becomes exceedingly difficult to find that balance that was shown to us to begin with.

    The never ending sectarian arrogance of the Ummah doesn’t help either. We’re all so focused on proving that we know it better than anyone else, that proclaiming believers to be disbelievers because of a differing of opinions has become an international sport. Worse than this, we can easily relate to this concept of international relations between Muslim countries because as is evidenced in current affairs, nationalistic pride, and similarly cultural pride, has taken front stage compared to the universality that Islam offers us. Religious arrogance and excessive piety lies at the foundation of the current rot in the Ummah. While there is a hint of tolerance starting to be reflected in the tone of the statements made by various Muslim leaders, these are so few and far between that we’re still generations away from this becoming the norm.

    Muslims are in strife today even as they become the most dominant religion in the world, because that is exactly what they’ve done to Islam. They’ve turned it into a religion, a set of rules, a set of rituals, and a set of fear-infused standards of compliance, and have largely lost sight of the true beauty of Islam. May Allah guide us all, Ameen.

  • Still The Distracted Ummah

    The sad reality of this Ummah is that it is prone to being divisive while crying for unity. We find it so simple to speak disparagingly about the personal perspectives that some adopt, and choose to openly mock them in their absence, thinking that not mentioning names is sufficient to free us of the hypocrisy of that action.

    We find it easier to highlight the shortcomings of every sect, every community, every sub-culture, or any person, but find it extremely difficult to celebrate the common ground, to build on the positive aspects that we share, or to jointly pursue beneficial programs that will contribute towards the unity of the Ummah rather than constantly hammering down on that wedge that sectarianism has created.

    A strong and united Ummah doesn’t happen on its own, nor does it miraculously form through dua. Dua unaccompanied by action is fruitless, hence the very plain instruction that guides us to tie our camel AND trust in Allah, not just trust in Allah blindly without any action.

    A united Ummah is a result of a united society. A united society is not possible without united communities. United communities will never be established if we have internal bickering and political agendas that make the American government look saintly. Unsurprisingly, united communities require united families to establish its foundations. A united family is not possible without committed individuals striving for harmony and understanding within the family unit. Finding the required common ground on which to build this entire structure that we all so achingly yearn for requires individuals committed to these holistic goals before they find reason to commit to selfish objectives that undermine these goals.

    The simple truth is that it starts with us as individuals before it becomes a global problem. Every global problem is a result of a critical mass of idiots that contribute towards the universality of the issues that result in said problem. We need to stop pacifying ourselves against the shortcomings of others. We need to stop being creative in introducing western concepts and western agendas into Islam under the guise of progressiveness, liberation, feminism, or similar such euphemisms that belie the true nature of the courses being pursued.

    Political correctness has no place in this Ummah. It has no place in Islam either. Political correctness breeds insincerity, and insincerity is at the heart of hypocrisy and disunity. If we’re forever prone towards counting our troubles and taking for granted our blessings, it’s hardly likely that our generation will see the Ummah progressing towards the noble status that we inherited from Rasulullah (SAW) and subsequently destroyed because of nothing more than infighting and selfish pursuits.

    Talking about the need for a reawakening is only a distraction from actually doing it. The time to talk about the strategies is long gone. We have strategists and intellectuals crawling out of the woodwork in droves, but very few who are willing to put into practice the knowledge that they so fervently seek to acquire.

    I’m often reminded of the prophecy that says that a time will come when the Ulama will be despised, and I realise that the basic assumption is that this will be so because people will despise the religious teachings that the Ulama try to establish. However, it is also entirely possible that the Ulama will be despised in the same way that unprincipled leaders are despised by their subjects. We have factories churning out Ulama by the dozens, online universities making the acquisition of Islamic knowledge easy and convenient, western institutions offering degrees in Islamic studies, and of course we have access to entire collections of ahadith and Qur’anic commentary through mediums that allow a layman to develop a critical and informed opinion on almost any aspect of Islam without leaving their favourite arm chair. Despite this massive and unfettered access to information, including students and scholars alike that have years of studies applied to acquiring this knowledge, the Ummah is in a state so despicable that we are impotent in the face of blatant persecution and abuse throughout the world, not least of which includes the so-called Muslim lands.

    Yet we still have time to point out the errors of our brothers and sisters, and we also still have the presence of mind to judge who is deviant, who is kafir, and who is damned to hell, while Muslims are starving themselves to death to get us to notice that there is a bigger issue that the Ummah needs to deal with beyond the pettiness of liberalist agendas and personal preferences. May Allah have mercy on us for our distracted state, and may He guide us towards a path of conviction in the beauty that we all profess to hold in our hearts. That is the beauty of Imaan. Ameen.

  • Freedom of Speech, etc.

    After seeing a headline in a local community newspaper this afternoon, it suddenly struck me why Muslims, in their current approach, will always be on the defensive when debating issues of freedom of speech or expression. The headline read something like, ‘Freedom of Speech, or Freedom to Blaspheme’. It was that last word that caught my attention.

    You see, when we accuse someone of blasphemy, there seems to be an underlying assumption that they hold dear what we hold dear. Or at the least, they respect what we respect. For this reason, we will forever be mocked by the irreverent few that take much pride and joy in mocking us. Why? I think it’s actually quite simple. We’re so drawn into defending and protecting the rituals of Islam, that we’ve failed dismally to demonstrate beyond any reasonable doubt why we proclaim Islam to be so beautiful, and worthy of respect.

    If I look around and see how entertainers garner respect even by people that do not normally take to such forms of entertainment, I notice that what is usually accompanied by such respect is an appreciation for the effort and skill that goes into that art form that is presented as entertainment. Hardly seems like a worthy comparison considering the mainstream Muslim views on entertainment, but bear with me. Note, I said Muslim views, not Islamic views, which is an inherent part of this problem. We’ve become so obsessed with point-in-time interpretations about what Islam stood for or represented during an era many centuries ago, that we’ve given up the principles that those wise scholars extrapolated their rulings from, and instead turned their guidance into ritualistic observations subscribed to by sects.

    How does this play into the hands of those that criticise Muslims for their supposed intolerance, or as some would like to believe, their bronze-aged-myths? Again, it’s really simple. When you become a ritualist, expect it to lead you down the path towards blind following. When you become a blind follower, it’s inevitable that intolerance will set in when others fail to see the merits of your rituals, especially when you’re incapable of explaining the principles and real-world value from such rituals. And that is the problem with most Muslims. They fail to see this connection. Look at the mobs and the out-of-hand protests that violate the very same principles and direct injunction of the same way of life, including the blessed personality that they profess to be defending and it’s easy to see how lost we are as an Ummah.

    Fortunately there are an increasing number of informed voices of a youth that appear to be inspired by the truth as they experience it, and as they can rationalise it based on a clear understanding and study of the most pristine sources of Islam that are speaking out against this ignorance. There are many difficult debates to still be had, but the fact that the aloofness of the present-day scholars is now being openly questioned instead of being blindly venerated is a clear sign that we’re finally emerging from the slump of cult-ish behaviour that we’ve immersed ourselves into from fear of getting things wrong.

    So freedom of speech, according to its present-day practice, is very likely, and somewhat justifiably, going to be exercised in a manner that can be deemed blasphemous by many. However, they can only successfully ridicule that which we hold sacred if we conduct ourselves in a manner that feeds such ridicule. There will always be irreverent idiots out there that despite the most convincing arguments, will always arrogantly hold fast to their ideologies that justify such condescension and ridicule even where none is justified, but the irony is that they are in fact a reflection of the behaviour of many Muslims today, just with the absence of faith in Allah. Perhaps when those mainstream Muslims realise this, they may just allow themselves an opportunity to think, rationalise, and appreciate the true beauty of what Islam offers them, rather than just stubbornly observing rituals without any consideration or understanding for its intended purpose.

    I could continue for hours on end discussing the contradictions between what Muslim claim to stand for these days, versus what their actions reveal, but I don’t think it’s necessary. The fact that we’re fair game for ridicule these days proves this point sufficiently.

  • A Rant About The Petty Impotence of Muslims

    We had an interesting incident at work today. It was related to a new prayer facility that we managed to obtain from the company in recent months. The pettiness and irrationality of today’s incident made it clear why the Ummah is in the state that it’s in. This might sound overly dramatic, or it might even sound petty in its own right, but the underlying principles struck me as exceptionally concerning because of the way it plays out in much greater issues than what took place today.

    The incident involved the installation of carpets in our new facility. The carpets are specifically designed for mosques, so it has patterns that guide the rows that we stand in to perform salaah. The fact that there is real cause for concern regarding the direction that the carpets face relative to what was previously agreed to be the direction of the qibla is a separate issue. However, in the installation of the carpets, the project manager forgot to set aside a section at the entrance to the room to be tiled so that we could enter the room before removing our shoes. As a result, the practice for the last couple of weeks was to remove our shoes outside the room in the common use area which is a high traffic corridor shared by all employees, and then step into the room with shoes in hand to be placed in the provided shoe racks.

    Last week we agreed to place down a strip of tape to demarcate the salaah area from the entrance to the room so that it was easy to determine which area could be stepped on with shoes, and which not. After salaah today the changes were announced. I later received an email advising me that some ‘brothers’ took exception to this common sense approach. They apparently didn’t feel it was right to step on the carpeted area inside the door because it was a single piece with the area that we performed salaah in. Is it just me, or is this seriously ridiculous logic?

    So I asked what the basis for such a decision was, since I’m quite certain that it has absolutely no basis in the Sunnah and in fact inconveniences the Muslims that wish to use the facility, and I was told that it would just make it easier for those that were using the facility, so we should just accept it. Makes it easier? Really? According to some nameless/faceless ‘brothers’?

    The underlying principles that I complained about at the beginning of this post relates to the willingness to give way to common sense in the enforcement of petty personal preferences. It has a distinct undertone of extremism that has no basis in Islam, and cannot be justified in any reasonable manner. But we’re loathe to object because of our need to pacify those that hold sway, rather than speak out against such pettiness.

    This same inclination to give in to personal preferences over what is specifically allowed or forbidden in Islam is exactly the source for so many contaminants of culture that have soiled the simplicity of Islam. I wondered about the precedent already set in almost every other mosque where a single piece of carpet extends between the official boundary of the mosque and what is deemed to be the outside of the mosque for purposes of i’tikaaf, and it simply caused me to struggle even more with the ridiculous logic being subscribed to in this instance.

    This must seem really petty, but it’s the pettiness of it that seems to carry the theme of the Ummah these days. We’ll strike out in full fury to defend the honour of Rasulullah (SAW) when some idiot makes a second rate movie that received almost no attention prior to our mob-like behaviour, but remain silent when innocent Muslim men and women are assaulted, harassed, murdered, abused, raped, molested, mutilated and worse. Is it because we’re incapable of behaving honourably, that we find it necessary to seek honour in defending something in a manner that is not even sanctioned in Islam? It’s this same mindset that has created suicide bombers and indiscriminate attacks on unarmed civilians including women and children and the elderly, simply because this same irrational logic that we allow to perpetuate in the Ummah is used to justify our actions where cowardly acts are easier to enforce than having a backbone and taking a principled and bold stand against the injustices that we profess to want to avenge.

    Muslims have earned the scorn and contempt of the disbelievers, most definitely not because Islam is prone to attracting such vile criticism, but simply because we’ve become petty and impotent to the point of having inane debates about simple logic and sectarian bull, while pretending to be defenceless when faced with the responsibility of protecting the honour and dignity of those we are responsible for.

  • On Atheists, Cartoons, And Muslim Mobs

    There is nothing so bad that there is no good in it. This has proven to be true in every challenge or struggle I’ve ever experienced in my life. Most recently it has once again proven true in my engagements with a group of atheists on Facebook. I’m constantly cautioned by those around me that engaging with them is a futile exercise and will only create doubts in my own mind about what I believe to be true. I respectfully disagree.

    By engaging with these atheists, I am forced to rationalise my beliefs, my faith, my subscription to a set of laws that have proven to transcend specific periods of time, and in this there is much to be gained. It confirms that man-made laws have to constantly be adapted to cater for the changes in society, but laws based on sound principles are applicable at every stage of human development.

    Muslims generally avoid taking a critical view of Islam because of the fear-mongering Imams that discourage such questioning. If you believe in something blindly, can that really be called faith or iman? Assuming that it can be considered as iman, how is blind belief ever going to strengthen that iman? Will that iman not then stifle and be fragile the moment it is challenged rationally by one that does not hold Islam in such high regard? Isn’t it then true that by not rationalising or clarifying your beliefs or at least trying to understand the logic behind the Islamic injunctions, you’re actually exposing yourself to a greater risk of misguidance or deviation, let alone the risk of being ‘convinced’ that your belief system is not credible, thereby resulting in you either holding on because of the fear of letting go, rather than holding on because you actually believe? Worse still, doesn’t it then expose you to the very real possibility of having that iman stripped away from you because of doubts that others could sow in your heart?

    I strongly oppose the views of many that suggest that we must simply do and not question. How we question is the critical differentiator. But that we must question is unquestionable. That we must understand is undeniable. Yet we have mobs of Muslims running through the streets destroying private property in their display of outrage in defence of the image of Rasulullah (SAW) whilst at the same time being oblivious to the fact that Rasulullah (SAW) himself or his companions never responded in such a despicable or barbaric manner when the very person of our beloved prophet was directly and infinitely more abused and attacked by the disbelievers in Mecca and Taif and so many other incidents. When the entrails of a goat was thrown on Rasulullah (SAW) he didn’t pronounce the death sentence over those that did it. When he was stoned out of Taif and had the opportunity to have the entire town destroyed, he made dua for them to be guided and didn’t rally the companions into mobs to harass or destroy the property of anyone that got in the way of their ‘protest’.

    This dignity and patience is absent in the mobs that profess to be protesting in the name of defending the honour of Islam and the Prophet (SAW). All they’re doing is revealing their barbaric tendencies and ignorance of the true values that Islam inculcates in us. I still maintain that the Muslims are directly responsible for the tarnished image of Islam today. If we conducted ourselves with integrity and dignity in line with Islamic principles, we would be above the reproach that is being levelled against us, because it would have been easy for the layman atheist to even determine that any such unfounded criticism against us is exactly that, unfounded.

    It’s time to stop blaming cartoonists and pathetic attempts at sensationalism for the attack on Islam, and start looking inwardly at our own communities and personal behaviour that maligns the honour of the Prophet (SAW) much more than any despicable cartoon or video could ever do.

  • Before you judge others…

    We are collectively responsible for the extremists that have hijacked Islam for their own personal agendas and political motives. If we had established the unity that is demanded of Muslims, the non-Muslims would never have the gap to produce plausible blame regarding atrocities often instigated by a third force that knows full well that Muslims are in too much disarray to provide any meaningful response.

    Each time I try to engage with a non-Muslim about the true essence of Islam versus what is reported in the main stream media, I am immediately hit with a barrage of comments and examples of how Muslims do not act in line with what we claim is the beauty and essence of Islam.

    But who cares, right? We need to focus on establishing sects and madhabs and Allah knows what else to define our superiority relative to others so that we can feel affirmed in our spirituality, while missing the point completely. I’m sick and tired of reminiscing about the glory days of Islam while our present actions make a mockery of that same legacy that everyone is quick to claim as their own.

    So here’s a few questions that I’d like to ask my fellow Muslims:

    1. Have you ever accused someone of being a kafir because of the way they behaved, rather than because they openly proclaimed not to believe in Allah and the last Prophet Muhammed (SAW)?
    2. Have you ever conducted yourself in a manner that would make it difficult to identify the Muslim in you when compared to another individual of the same ethnic origin?
    3. Have you ever put off doing the right thing because you didn’t think it was anyone else’s business how sincere your efforts at being a Muslim is, or is not?
    4. Have you ever engaged with a non-Muslim and made excuses or apologies about some aspects of Islam because you felt ashamed of what they questioned simply because you didn’t have the knowledge or appreciation of the issue to provide them with a reasonable response?
    5. Are you looking for affirmation and inclusion from the non-Muslims and celebrating our inclusion in the world sporting events rather than realising that we’re pandering for attention at the expense of our integrity?

    There are many more questions, and I have no doubt that some may interpret these questions as arrogance on my part. But I’m not here to appease anyone. I’ve been excluded from the Muslim community more times than I care to remember simply because I challenged their ritualistic approach to Islam that was almost always tainted with a healthy dose of cultural bias. We have turned Islam into a cult and the we cry that we’re being oppressed!

    I for one am tired of watching kids raised with the fear of non-compliance rather than the appreciation of the beauty and value that the adoption of Islamic principles offer us. I’m also sick of the hypocrisy of overt inclusion but distinct prejudice when it comes to accepting Muslims as Muslims regardless of their ethnic origins or caste. Being of Indian descent in South Africa, the sickening stench of the caste system still very much permeates the Ummah, and given the stories that people share from around the world about their challenges in finding a marriage partner because of this, it’s obvious that this is not restricted to South Africa only.

    We’re impotent. We are the generation of the Ummah that is a fulfilment of the statement of Rasulullah (SAW) that says that we will be large in numbers but weak like the foam of the ocean. So before you thumb your nose at a seemingly lesser Muslim, consider that you are part of this despised and contemptible Ummah, not because Islam is contemptible, but because our selective use and abuse of Islamic injunctions to suit our personal fetishes and fancies is what is making us contemptible.

    Audhubillah min dhalik…May Allah save us from ourselves, and may He save others from us. Ameen.

  • Abouth those Islamic schools of thought

    Something just occurred to me regarding the argument against choosing at will between the rulings of the various schools of thought (or madhahib). I often hear people saying that it is wrong because we’re picking and choosing what suits us in Islam. E.g. choosing the Shafi view about the time of Asr and then choosing the Hanafi view about what may invalidate my wudhu, etc. is frowned upon and has led to many ‘scholars’ declaring innocent individuals as deviants as a result of this.

    Here’s what I don’t get. If it is accepted that each of the schools of thought have taken their rulings from the Sunnah, and each have also confirmed that their scholars have stated that if you find something in the Sunnah that contradicts their teachings, then follow the Sunnah, then what is the problem in picking and choosing between them? Am I not still picking and choosing between acts within the confines of the Sunnah as practised by Rasulullah (SAW) and the salaf?

    What’s more interesting to me is that most of these differences are minor details relating to how the rituals should be performed, and none of the differences differ with the tenets or principles of Islam such that following it takes one outside the fold of Islam. So why must I pick a madhab and stick to it? Why must I label myself as a Salafi to be considered rightly guided? Why must I choose a specific scholar and not others, if each of them that I choose to take advice or guidance from base their views on the same Sunnah that is in line with the established principles of Islam?

    The sectarian mentality has eroded the unity in the Ummah for many centuries now. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I have yet to come across an extremist that was not aligned to any specific sect. The moment we choose an allegiance towards a specific school of thought, we’re immediately compelled to defend that position as being the most correct position because if we don’t, we’ll be suggesting that we’re following a path that is not exactly straight. Our pride won’t allow us to do so.

    Sectarianism feeds our inherent intellectual laziness, while at the same time it intellectualises Islam and loses sight of the essence and principles of Islam. We’ve created a cesspool of differences that have no bearing on the level of taqwa (piety) that we have because we’re so distracted by rituals and the ritualistic implementation of Islamic teachings. Look around you and see how many people complain that we’ve forgotten to be decent human beings despite our intellectual prowess in advanced sciences and the like. That’s what the sectarians have done to Islam. They’ve reduced it to an academic pursuit that has a hierarchy of titles attached to it (something that is never supported in any hadith or Quranic verse) yet profess to be upholding the Sunnah through those structures.

    We’re missing the point it seems.